Wave-motor.



J. C. LEWIS.

WAVE MOTOR.

unieuro!! FILED. uns, 1909. mzmswnn 1120.12, m1. 1,091.,

Patented May 6, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ero.

JAMES e. LEWIS, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

WAVE-MOTOR.

Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

lPatented May 6, 1913.

Application filled May 13, 19(19, Serial 110.4953798. Renewed December 12. 1911. Serial No. 665,379.l

To all 'whom it may, concern."

VBe it known that I, JAMES C. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States .residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new' and useful Improvements in fave-Motors, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to that type of wave motors in which a vane or paddle is pivotally 'suspended in the" path of the Wave travel from an extended super-structure, and is adapted to convertthe force of the vwavesy so as to operate a pump or other mechanism.

The primary object of my invention` is to combine with the super-structure, which bears the paddle or vane, a sub-structure, which I term a wave deector, of such configuration as to cause the wave to break thereon or thereover and to recede therefrom, so that the-paddle is operated, not only by the incoming Wave, but also by the recession of such wave.

vwill engage with a vane and hold it clear of the waves incase of a severe storm, thus preventing the destruction of the devlcc. The above, and other novel features of my invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in Which:-

Figure 1 "is a side Velevation of'my im'- proved wave motor, the.. wave .deiiector thereof being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of `my Wave motor in the position it assumes when hanging free. Fig. 3 is a section of the wave motor vane taken online 3--3 of Fig. 2, seen from the rear. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of myV device as itappears when constructed with a plurality, of vanes. Fig. 5 is a front sectional elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4 taken on line 5--5 thereof.

Referring more specifically to the draw- `of arms 16 secured to shaft 14 which depend downwardly therefrom into the path of the wave travel, and carry at their lower end the motor vane 17. Said vane 17 is provided with guides 18 which slidingly engage the arms .16. At the lower end of arms 16 I provide springs 19 which serve the dual purpose lfof forming a stop for vane 17, and at the same time a resilient cushioning means that prevents damageto the device if fork any -lreason vane 17 should suddenly drop. Vanei 17 is provided with a float 20 on the rear face thereof which serves to keep the vane always near the surface ofthe actuatingwave whether it be in the flow or ebb.A `Dn the upper portions of arms -16 are carried counter-weights 21 whichare fastened to the arms by any suitable means is I indicated generally by 22. These counter-weightsSei-viejo prevent any distortion of the device tten' in actual operation and cause' it toditt'ela smooth even motion. To render the motor 'vane more stable 1 pro- `vide my .device with` cross-arms 23 extending diagonally betweenarms 16. Arms 16 are keyedttp vshaft 14 by means of suitable f set-screws -or othen` fastening means 24.

Secured tothe outer-ends of shaft ,.14 and l closely engaging bearings 13,k as indicated at 25, are suitable crank arms 26. Said arms 26 engage links 27 which in turn have pivotal ,connection with piston rods 28 as indicatejd a't- 29. Piston rods 28 are` guided in.r suitable bearings 30 and terminate in pistonhealds 31 operating in'cylinders 32. Cjv'lindersi32 terminate in pipes 33 bearing check valves 34 and 35. Check valve 34 communicates by way of pipe 36 with a strainer 37 which is located below `the normal Water level. Check valve 35 communicales by way of pipe 38 with a suitable ystorage reservoir (not shown).

having an inclined surface 40 terminating m a. curve 41 struck to an arc corresponding 'ings,'and at present to Figs. 11 and 2, -it will rsubstantially to the radius of the swing of l91s i 39 indi-1.- fcates what I term a wave deflector which fis a Weir built preferably of concrete and 'curve 42 struck to an are inverse to that of the main body of the delector. Said de- 'llector is supported on suit-able foundations* 42".

lt 1:dill be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 4 that the deiiector surface projects into the sea bottom at its forward end, and in actual practice extends about three feet below low tide. It rises therefrom in an incline 40 and curve 41 as above described, thus leaving a recess thereunder. This recess may either be filled with coarse grouting, or if desired the sand may be allowed to collect therein, which in the practice of my invention actu allytakes place.

Referring now more speciically to that form of my device shown in Figs. '4 and 5, it Will be seen that l have provided a plurality of motor vanes 15, and unite them pivotally with hubs 44 secured to shaft 14. Be-

A tween said motor vanes I interpose springs VneS.

' l attach cables or other suit-able staying means 46 to the outermost of said vanes and run them to the upper port-ions of arms l interpose strong springs 47 in said stays. Since vanes 17, when the Waves are running high, are liable to slide with Aconsiderable force toward the hubs 44, I have provided arms 16 with springs 48 to take up the shock. In oase of a severe storm, it may be expedient to secure the vanes out of the path of the waves, and for this purpose I have provided the catch 49 adapted to engage a iinger 50 on one of the vanes 16 to hold all of the vanes out of the path of wave travel until the storm shall have subsided.

The operation of my improved Wave motor is as follows: The normal position of the motor vanes being perpendicular when the device is not operating, it will be seen that when an inwardly moving wave strikes a vane, it will carry the same landward, float 20 on said vane causing it to always ride near the top of the wave. The incoming waves will strike the surface 39 and be delected upward, and sincethe curvature of said surface is practically the arc of the swing of the vane, it will be seen that saidA the Wave, and soon until the wave has spent its force. As soon as the wave has spent its :force on the last seaward arm and starts to recede, it will engage the vane on said seaward arm, carrying 1t seaward, which in turn will pull another vane into position, thereby utilizing the maximum amount of the force of the ebb. From the above it will be seen that by means of the device illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, l practically double the stroke of the crank shaft.

Having described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. In a wave motor, the combination of a pivoted motor element suspended in the path of wave travel, and a curved Wave deector, the principal curve thereof approximating the arc of the radius of swing of said motor element.

2. In a wave motor, the combination of n.

pivoted buoyant motor element suspendedV in the path of wave travel, and a curved wave delector, the principal curve thereof approximating the. arc of the radius oi ,swing of said motor element.

3. In a Wave motor, the combination' of pivoted arms, a buoyant motor element slid ingly mounted on said arms in the path of wave travel, and a curved wave detlector, the principal curve thereof approximating the arc of the radius ofswing of said arms.,

4. In a wave inotor, the combination of a plurality of motor arms rigidly secured to a pivoted shaft, said arms 4each having a buoyant motor element slidingly mounted thereon and adapted to be suspended in the path of wave travel, and a curved wave deiector, the principal curve thereof approximating the arc of the radius of swing of said arms.

5. In a Wave motor, the combination of a pivoted motor element suspended in the path of wave travel, and a wave deilector comprising a surface curved .to approximately the are of the radius of swing o said motor element and terminating in a seaward surface substantially tangential thereto.

o. n a Wave motor, the combination with a supporting structure, placed at a distance from the shore line, of a shaft supported on said structure, a plurality -o" arms rigidly secured thereon and extendin on either side of said shaft, a buoyant pad letmounted on said arms, adjustable. counter-weights secured to the opposite end of said arms, and a wave deliector terminating at anabrupt angle beyond the path of the swingr of said arms, whereby the waves are carried by said structure in the actuation of said paddles.

7. In a wave motor, the combination with a supporting structure, placed' at a distance from the shore line, of a shaft supported on said structure, a plurality of arms rigidly secured thereon and extending on either side o said shaft, 'a buoyant paddle inonted ing in a plane above the lower edge of said lo on said arms, `adjustable counter-Weights seinclined arms.

cured tothe opposite end of said arms, and In witness th'at I claim the foregoing I a, Wave delector having an inclined surface lhavehereunto subscribed my name this lst directed outwdrdly from said shore line and day of May, 1909.

provided with a curved surface struck by J. C. LEWIS. I, the radius on said shaft terminating in an `Witnesses: inverse curve beyond the inward swing of T. L. MEAD, Jr.,

said arms, the termination of said incline be- E. A. STRAUSE. 

